How embarrassing!

So most of you know we're pretty clueless when it comes to home repairs.  Here's my latest "duh" moment:

Our water softener hasn't been working for years.  We don't even know if it's ever worked since we bought our house 5 years ago.  So last week I finally got around to calling someone to come and look at it.  Monday morning he came....and guess what the problem was -- it was unplugged!  Yes, that's right, it's been unplugged!  Argh.  I was so embarrassed.  The Water Softener guy didn't seem too impressed, or amused.  

So anyway, I'm admitting this because I want to know if any of you know about water softeners.  This guy said that because it's just sat their for years that it's not worth fixing.  (Something about the sponges growing algae and bacteria which could make us sick.)  He didn't actually look in the tank.  He just said it would need to be replaced.

Do you think he is just trying to sell us a $1000 water softener or is it really not worth fixing?

Happy Birthday Spiderman!

We celebrated Andrew's 4th birthday last week.  The day was full of fun -- pretty much wore me out.  I thought I'd gotten some pretty great gifts for him, and he received them graciously (after BEGGING for days to open them.)  Unfortunately a few days after his birthday, Andrew very kindly told me "I think I got the wrong stuff for my birthday.  But that's okay, Mom."  

I'm so glad he's so forgiving.  (:  

I do love that kid.  He makes me smile every day.  

Andrew's "favorite" foods ? ? ?

Last week I took Andrew to the Pediatrician.  I had to laugh at this conversation:

Pediatrician:  "Andrew, what's your favorite food?"

Andrew (without hesitation) replies: "Broccoli and log beans!"

So apparently Andrew already knows the "right" answer to that question.  It made me laugh because Andrew doesn't even like Broccoli.  And "log beans" are his new term for fresh green beans.  He thinks they look like sticks and he does love them.  But really, I'm pretty sure a more accurate answer would have been candy and ice cream.  

Winter Trip to the Zoo

One day last week was very sunny so we tagged along with some friends and went to the zoo.  A lot of the animals were not out and about for the winter, but neither were the people.  I liked that.  It was so nice to just walk around and see the animals that were there.  Below is a video of Eric growling at the Lynx.  His little kiss midway through the growling cracks me up.  Unfortunately, I took it sideways and I'm too lazy to figure out how to rotate it.  So rotate your head and enjoy.  (:

A Special Birthday Song

In my last post I mentioned Andrew's performance of a Spiderman song for the Joy School Christmas Program.  Well, on my birthday he told me that we would have cake and he'd sing Happy Birthday and Spiderman to me.  Here's the video of him singing Spiderman....it's great!  And just so you know, he's saying "I'm saving people...."  At first I thought he was saying "I'm seven people" and that didn't make sense.  He also says his key phrase "I'm a genius" a few times. Enjoy!

Joy School Program

This weekend Andrew had a Joy School Christmas Program.  It was full of spontaneity and surprises.  The program consisted of a short Nativity skit and a few songs.  Andrew didn't want to put his Shepherd costume on because he gets too hot in it.  Then he wouldn't even go "on stage" for the skit.  The highlight was when, at the end of the skit the kids sang some Christmas songs.  Andrew sang -- loudly.  The only problem is that Andrew sang a Spiderman song that he was making up as he went.  To top it off he also swung his arms and swayed to the music. 

I guess you can't expect too much from a group of 3 & 4 year olds.  Three of the girls did really great.  Another girl was crying because she suddenly wanted to be Mary.  And then there's Andrew, doing his own thing.  

You know it's a bad day at church when....

You know it's a bad day at church when several people up to you after the meeting to tell you "You're doing a great job."  

The meeting began with Eric standing in the aisle for the first 10 or 15 minutes arms folded, scowling, and "Umph"ing because he wanted his Dad who was on the stand.  When he started kicking the bench and then hit the guy in front of us, I finally let him wander up there.  That was okay until the first speaker stepped down and Eric decided he wanted to stand on the podium stool.  Thus began wrestling match#1 between Dad and Eric.  Unable to calm him down, Brian brought Eric down to me.  I took him to the hall.  We returned 2 more times to try and last the meeting out.  (Thank goodness for a kind friend who took care of Andrew during the fiasco.)  

With only a few remaining minutes of the meeting Andrew was laying in the aisle trying to crawl up to the stand.  I was hanging on to his leg.  So with only the song and prayer left, I let Andrew go up to sit on Brian's lap.  But Andrew decided he'd rather stand on the stool next to the podium and grin at everyone.  Brian tried to hold him.  I went up to the stand to help and tried to sit the last 3 minutes out.  But I lost the fight again, carrying Andrew out of the chapel.  

After the meeting more than one person came up to tell me what a great job I'm doing.  I even got a couple of hugs.  It did make me feel better to know that there were some very understanding people watching the whole mess.  But then while I drove home I thought "Must have really been bad."  

Before and After

In November some of my family came and helped us with a couple of big projects.  My brothers and Dad did some great work!  And their families were so supportive and helpful too.  Thank you!  I've been waiting to post before/after pictures until I finished painting one of the rooms. :

First project, our storage room.  What was once a big, cement room with cheap plastic shelves and a lot of stuff on the floor...

is now an organized food storage room with lots of shelves to fill!  

Next, I wanted to make a play room under the stairs.  So, this mess is what we started with -- an unfished closet full of piles of stuff.  

 

What we now have is a cute little play room, complete with a window in the wall.  I finally finished the painting (6 hours of work which took me 6 weeks to accomplish.)  Andrew had requested red paint...well it's a very small room and red seemed too dark.  So we compromised on light orange.  Not my first choice, but still fun for a playroom. 

When we put the kitchen in the room Andrew was very excited.  He said "Now we just need a couch in here!"  

Thank you to our wonderful family!  You're the best!

Halloween

I don't love halloween -- but I do find it much more entertaining with my kids.  Andrew was very into it this year.  And Eric seemed to enjoy things too.  We did a lot of celebrating: 

First, there was a little party at the church on Wednesday.  Eric was a Construction Site Worker and Andrew was a pirate.  

Thursday we had a Joy School party.  Andrew was hilarious.  He was definitely not shy as he came parading out in his costume, swinging his sword around and announcing, "Arrrrh!  I'm a pirate!"  Then after each song they performed, he bowed repeatedly, saying "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."  And finally the teacher and kids told a little story in which they had to work together to move a very large pumpkin.  Andrew improvised -- suddenly he waved his hand, "Abracadabra!  I'm Superman!"  And of course Superman was able to move the pumpkin without anyone's help.  Too bad that wasn't actually part of the skit.

And tonight we went to trick or treat at Grandma's apartment building, then came home to trick or treat too.  This time Eric was a Spiderman.  Unfortunately he wouldn't keep the eye mask on, but he was good to keep the Amish looking Spiderman hat on.   

Sister's Weekend 2008

Every year my sisters, mom, and I get together to spend a weekend away.  This year we went to "Time Out for Women" in Omaha, Nebraska.  The time off was great and I always have a good time with my sisters and Mom.  The Time Out speakers and performers were uplifting too.  I am so grateful that I have such a great family.  I am so grateful for the great examples they are to me.